Indians lose 4-3 to Royals

Statistics show the Indians have the best starting pitching in the American League. This week, they’ll get a chance to prove it.

Andy Call

Statistics show the Indians have the best starting pitching in the American League.

This week, they’ll get a chance to prove it.

Kansas City’s Joey Gathright drove in the winning run with an eighth-inning RBI single Saturday night, giving the Royals a 4-3 victory over the Indians at Kauffman Stadium. Cleveland’s loss, coupled with Boston’s victory over Minnesota, clinched home-field advantage throughout the playoffs for the Red Sox.

Boston will host the Angels in next week’s Division Series, while the Indians host New York.

The Red Sox called the Indians immediately after the game to announce they have chosen to begin the playoffs Wednesday. That means the Indians and Yankees will begin Thursday, and it also means Cleveland must use all four of its primary starting pitchers -- C.C. Sabathia, Fausto Carmona, Jake Westbrook and Paul Byrd -- against the Yankees.

“We were shooting to try to have the best record,” Manager Eric Wedge said. “It didn’t work out, but our guys went after it. They always play the same way, with everything they’ve got.”

If the Indians had been able to start Wednesday, Cy Young Award candidate Sabathia and league ERA leader Carmona could both have pitched twice on regular rest. Cleveland’s starting pitchers have a 4.20 combined ERA, best in the league.

Westbrook allowed three runs over 6 1/3 innings and said he is good to go for his Game 3 start.

“I feel good, I feel strong,” said the right-hander, who turned 30 Saturday. “I’ve been back-and-forth in September, but I feel good about how I’m pitching now.

“I’m ready to pitch in the playoffs. That’s what we’re excited about.”

The last-place Royals can be excited about beating the Indians seven times this season. Only Kansas City and Chicago have seven victories against Cleveland.

“Whether a team has 90 wins or 90 losses, they’re still big-league baseball players,” Westbrook said. “They’re not going to back down because they’re in last place.”

The Royals certainly didn’t back down in the eighth. Two hits off Rafael Perez (1-2) brought right-hander Jensen Lewis in to pitch with one out. Lewis struck out pinch-hitter Shane Costa but, with left-hander Aaron Fultz warming up in the bullpen, surrendered Gathright’s game-winning hit to right.

Joakim Soria (2-3) did not allow a hit to any of the seven batters he faced, earning
the win.

Cleveland trailed 3-0 early before rallying.

Victor Martinez narrowed the gap to 3-2 in the third inning with a two-out, two-run single to left-center. Three consecutive hits in the eighth, including Martinez’s RBI single through the right side, lifted the Indians into a 3-3 tie.

Cleveland loaded the bases with one out in the eighth, but Jason Michaels popped up and Franklin Gutierrez grounded out.

Westbrook weathered a rough first inning, then settled down and worked into the seventh.

Leadoff batter David DeJesus was hit by an errant cut fastball, then Mark Grudzielanek drove a hit through the right side and Mark Teahen belted an RBI double to right. Grudzielanek scored on a sinker gone wild, Teahen scored on a sacrifice fly, and the Indians suddenly found themselves trailing, 3-0.

Westbrook stayed out of trouble until a one-out triple in the seventh by Tony Pena Jr. Perez took the mound and induced a ground ball from DeJesus that led to Pena being caught in a rundown.

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